Can you help this Sunderland charity to 'keep the lights on'?

Sunderland Maritime Heritage celebrates its 20th anniversary in December this year and is run by unpaid volunteers.

But trustee/secretary Linda Merritt said: “As a small, local charity we find it hard in normal circumstances to compete with larger national charities with teams of fundraisers and promoters. We are all part-time volunteers.

“Not a penny is spent on salaries or expenses and out of necessity, we are very frugal in our day to day operations. But really at the moment, it is funds to “keep the lights on” at the centre that we need.”

Linda is hoping people will help the cause after it launched a charity appeal.

The charity has raised £2,100 through a fundraising appeal but it needs to reach £10,000 to survive.

Its objective is to promote Sunderland’s extensive maritime history through the museum and information centre.

Linda added: "These are our only sources of funding in these troubled times.”

She praised the Sunderland Echo for its help is highlighting the cause recently and that helped to bring in donations.

Linda added: “Our ideal, as with any charity, would be long term sponsorship by a local organisation – funding or skills.

The centre offers an interactive heritage experience for all with a workshop area demonstrating boatbuilding, woodworking and engineering skills.

It has a visitor centre which illustrates the development of Sunderland’s 600-year history in ship building and associated trades.

It also has the Willdora which was one of around 850 private boats which sailed from England across the Channel to help rescue more than 336,000 British and French troops who were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk in the Second World War.

Linda urged people to donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/saving-sunderland039s-maritime-heritage or through the website www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk.

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